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COST 007/13 1 EN
European Cooperation
in the field of Scientific
and Technical Research
- COST -
——————————
Brussels, 24 May 2013
COST 007/13
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Subject : Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of a European Concerted
Research Action designated as COST Action CM1302: European Network on
Smart Inorganic Polymers (SIPs)
Delegations will find attached the Memorandum of Understanding for COST Action CM1302 as
approved by the COST Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) at its 187th meeting on 15-16 May
2013.
___________________
COST 007/13 2 EN
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING For the implementation of a European Concerted Research Action designated as
COST Action CM1302
"EUROPEAN NETWORK ON SMART INORGANIC POLYMERS" (SIPS)
The Parties to this Memorandum of Understanding, declaring their common intention to participate
in the concerted Action referred to above and described in the technical Annex to the Memorandum,
have reached the following understanding:
1. The Action will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of document COST 4154/11
“Rules and Procedures for Implementing COST Actions”, or in any new document amending
or replacing it, the contents of which the Parties are fully aware of.
2. The main objective of the Action is to focus the research activities on inorganic polymers
across Europe and to explore the full potential of inorganic polymers in materials science and
technology with emphasis on advanced smart properties and applications.
3. The economic dimension of the activities carried out under the Action has been estimated, on
the basis of information available during the planning of the Action, at EUR 56 million in
2013 prices.
4. The Memorandum of Understanding will take effect on being accepted by at least five Parties.
5. The Memorandum of Understanding will remain in force for a period of 4 years, calculated
from the date of the first meeting of the Management Committee, unless the duration of the
Action is modified according to the provisions of Chapter IV of the document referred to in
Point 1 above.
___________________
COST 007/13 3 TECHNICAL ANNEX EN
TECHNICAL ANNEX
A. ABSTRACT
This Action on Smart Inorganic Polymers (SIPs) will synergise the European activities in relevant
areas in order to establish widely applicable rules for the rational design of smart inorganic
polymers. The combination of leading scientists with common motivation but diverse expertise
(main group/transition metal chemistry, polymer synthesis, characterisation, processing,
applications, and theory) in concert with industrial partners will act as a nucleus for translational
efforts towards the design and application of novel inorganic polymers (e.g., polyphosphazenes,
polyamino- or phosphinoboranes, polysilanes, metallopolymers, nanoparticle-based hybrids). The
network will coordinate and concentrate scattered existing national programmes and informal
collaborations, which will be kick-started by including new complementary skills. SIPs will
intensify the European exchange of knowledge and technologies and provide a forum for recent
developments and innovative aspects. By implementing a sorely missed annual European
conference on inorganic polymers, SIPs will increase its visibility in related communities. This will
allow the systematic expansion of SIPs by inclusion of additional interested parties with desirable
expertise and resources to boost the developments in this area.
Keywords: Inorganic polymers (Si, B, P, metallopolymers); advanced applications (e.g., opto-
electronics, flame retardants, energy storage devices, plastics); functional materials; inorganic
nanomaterials; advanced catalysts; Smart Inorganic Polymers (SIPs); European Conference on
Smart Inorganic Polymers (EuSIP)
B. BACKGROUND
B.1 General background
Environmentally friendly, cost-efficient multifunctional materials are indispensable for modern
society. Polymers are one of the major areas of molecular and materials science with uses as
plastics, thermosets, elastomers, fibres, films and structural materials. Worldwide, about 250
million tons of polymers are produced per year, with increasing tendency. Applications range from
electronics, adhesives, lubricants and structural components for cars, aircrafts, buildings and
medical applications to more mundane uses in children’s toys, clothing and food packaging.
So far most commercial polymers are petroleum-based organic materials (polysiloxanes being a
notable exception). The production of such polymers has been shifted more and more to Asia, a
trend which still continues. Importantly, during the last two decades, polymers with backbone
COST 007/13 4 TECHNICAL ANNEX EN
elements other than carbon are increasingly being applied in high-end technologies where materials
with a combination of specific properties are required. The discovery of new synthetic approaches
to metallopolymers is in part responsible for these rapid developments. The drastically increased
range of available monomeric building blocks in the synthetic toolbox of inorganic chemistry
(compared to carbon chemistry) can be expected to allow for fine-tuning of custom-tailored
properties. The diverse nature of the chemical requirements mandates the coordination of existing
and future single-investigator-driven research projects throughout the European Research Area in
order to fully harness the extraordinary electronic properties of novel bonding modes of heavier
main group and transition metal elements in novel smart inorganic polymers.
Even now inorganic polymers offer attractive physical properties like low glass-transition
temperatures and flexibility over a wide temperature range with no need for plasticizers as in
petroleum-based polymers. Moreover, their biodegradability is mostly superior to that of carbon-
based polymers and their recyclability is also significantly higher. In the longer term, inorganic
polymers could even make a sustainable contribution to the imperative replacement of
hydrocarbon/oil-based feedstocks by more abundant sources. Furthermore, the combination of
polymers based on two or more different monomeric building blocks in block copolymers is an area
of increasing interest. For instance, by merging the advantages of organic and inorganic polymers,
the features of both areas can be ideally combined to achieve a new level of quality in polymer
chemistry. Strong interaction of experimental with theoretical groups is essential to further develop
structure–property relationships in these innovative materials and to improve the design for specific
applications. This Action therefore represents more than the simple sum of all benefits: our
collaborative efforts will establish a modular set of inorganic monomers with unprecedented
electronic, redox, photo-emissive, magnetic, pre-ceramic, self-healing, catalytic and other “smart”
properties that can be implemented into polymers as blocks or single units. The compatibility and
interplay of monomeric units that stem from various areas of cutting-edge inorganic chemistry will
be established. The feedback of the generated structure–property relationships into the improvement
and de novo design of complementary monomers will efficiently boost the development in this area.
A number of internationally leading European research groups work in this area, although the
community is highly fragmented. The traditional boundaries predominantly based on the Periodic
Table of the Elements have to be considered obsolete in a more and more function-guided world of
chemistry. This Action (Smart Inorganic Polymers) will help overcome these boundaries and guide
national efforts towards an efficient and targeted development and investigation of new inorganic
polymers. In order to establish widely applicable rules for the rational design of smart inorganic
polymers it is mandatory to unify the skills and talents of leading experimental and theoretical
COST 007/13 5 TECHNICAL ANNEX EN
groups covering related interdisciplinary areas in chemistry, physics, biochemistry, medicine,
materials science and engineering. SIPs will boost these developments by promoting collaborations
and continuous exchange of results and ideas on a pan-European level and will thus strengthen the
leading position of the European community in the field.
B.2 Current state of knowledge
Research in functional materials science is one of the top priority strategic areas of development in
science and technology. Due to the tremendous variability of the backbone, inorganic polymers
exhibit a broad spectrum of properties (often superior to their organic counterparts) that make them
suitable for many advanced applications, e.g. as oils, greases, rubbers, polishes, coatings and
insulating materials (e.g., polysiloxanes), ceramic precursors, electronics (polysilanes), water
repellents, non-flammable fibres, foams, fuel pipes and metal ion conductors in batteries
(polyphosphazenes). Some inorganic polymers exhibit low to very low flammability and can be
used as flame retardants in thermoplastics and in thermosets, e.g.. polyphosphates.
The preparation of functional building blocks is typically the first step for the rational design of
inorganic polymers. Strained inorganic ring systems are suitable monomeric precursors for
polymers, but to date only a limited number has been employed in ring-opening polymerisation
(ROP) e.g., using oxaphosphiranes (C/P/O), and some theoretical calculations have been carried out
for these strained ring systems, the reason being the lack of interaction between molecular, polymer
and theoretical chemists.
Saturated polysilanes, in contrast to alkanes, are appealing alternatives to π-conjugated conductors
due to extensive sigma conjugation. Potential applications include UV photoresists,
photoconductors, non-linear optics and radical initiators.
Saturated silicon clusters in the polysilane chain increase s-conjugative effects. Unsaturated clusters
show pronounced electronic anisotropies and offer the potential for further functionalisation. Other
inorganic alkanes have been used as suitable monomers (especially of group 13/15 compounds) for
dehydro-polymerisation reactions.
Heteroalkene π-bonded building blocks were introduced for π-conjugated polymers in which
substitution of the carbon atom in molecularly defined oligoacetylenes by phosphorus or silicon
results in large variations in the electronic properties.
So-called heteropolyacetylenes, such as polymers based on a conjugated P=P backbones,
(polyphosphazenes), were reported as early as 1896 by Stokes and described as “inorganic rubber”.
Polyphosphazenes are ideal multi-tool polymers, as their properties (hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity,
COST 007/13 6 TECHNICAL ANNEX EN
crystallinity) are easily tuneable post-polymerisation; polymers with ligands and cross-linkable
groups (reversible, photo- and thermally induced) are thus readily accessible.
Block copolymers (BCPs) have been extensively studied, but to date virtually all studies
concentrated on organic materials and their self-assembly. The recent hybrid block copolymers
based on inorganic or/and organometallic blocks show fascinating nanostructures with new
properties e.g. templates for nanopatterning surfaces and nanostructuring silicon gates in flash-
memory devices, hollow vesicles with tunable permeation for drug delivery.
Research in π-conjugated organic molecular materials is currently a rich and proliferating area in
view of their cost-efficient applications in optoelectronics, electronics and devices. Heavier main
group elements (e.g., Si, P, S, Se, Te) have previously been incorporated into electroactive organic
polymers mainly as peripheral structure-guiding motifs outside the effective conjugation path.
Molecular siloles, for instance, exhibit aggregation-induced photoluminescence, which has been
exploited for the detection of explosives.
The strategy of incorporating reactive heteroatoms into the conjugated chain afforded heteroatom-
incorporated analogues, especially with nitrogen (e.g., pyrrole and carbazole) and sulfur (e.g.,
thiophene) heterocycles. Organic solar cells with high power conversion efficiencies are accessible
on this basis.
Polymers containing transition metal centres in the main chain, metallopolymers, combine the
processing advantages of polymers with the functionality of metal centres. Poly(ferrocenylsilanes)
that exhibit a controlled response to a redox stimulus are of interest, e.g., in photonic crystal
devices. Coordination polymers (CPs) which are composed of metal ions (or clusters) connected by
linear organic linkers have potential applications as gas sensors. An exciting way to expand their
potential is to prepare complex CPs with new structural motifs, e.g., by improving self-assembly
through π-stacking of their basic molecular components in a rational “one-pot, multi-components”
approach.
Microfluidic synthesis allows continuous production of microgels with precise control over their
size and size distribution, shape, composition and morphology. Microfluidic fabrication is
eminently suited for creating non-equilibrium, kinetically trapped hydrogel particle shapes. While
microfluidic techniques have been recently used to prepare microgel particles, preparation of
nanogel redox stimulus responsive polymer particles by fluidics has not been documented. The
nanofluidic fabrication of cross-linked porous nanoparticles would offer tremendous potential in
controlled release and as micro- or nanoreactors.
The joining of forces of internationally leading scientists (with diverse expertise on novel molecular
building blocks, inorganic polymers and theory) with industrial partners will allow the development
COST 007/13 7 TECHNICAL ANNEX EN
of the modular concept of this Action Smart Inorganic Polymers. The design and preparation of
custom-built inorganic materials such as inorganic copolymers and block-copolymers will bring
European competitiveness in this area to new levels.
The community of leading scientists working in the area of suitable building blocks for and
preparation and application of inorganic polymers is highly fragmented in Europe. Thus, a COST
Action is the most appropriate tool to combine the expertise and knowledge for the tasks at hand:
the rational synthesis of smart inorganic polymers.
B.3 Reasons for the Action
Exciting discoveries in the past decades point toward tremendous potential of inorganic polymers
for broad applicability in diverse fields. Inorganic polymers provide greater consumer safety owing
to improved properties and environmental compatibility (no need for plasticizers, intrinsically
flame-retardant properties of polymers), technological and economic advancement of the European
Research Area (solid polymer electrolytes for consumer electronics based on polymers with a low
glass-transition temperature)), molecular electronics with non-metal elements as improvement and
replacement for metal-based conductors and electronic circuits. Furthermore, inorganic polymers
are an innovative approach for sustainability by switching from petroleum-based polymers to
element-based polymers and lessen the burden on scarce non-renewable resources or even provide
alternatives to them.
Despite the intensive research and novel developments in the field of inorganic polymers there is
currently no coordinated exchange mechanism for funded collaboration, training, knowledge
transfer, networking and dissemination. Inorganic polymers as an emerging field are currently
hardly visible, being mostly an annex to other polymer/material communities. The COST Action
SIPs is a scientific and technological network that specifically aims to coordinate and focus existing
national programmes in the field of Smart Inorganic Polymers, which is to this day a predominantly
single-investigator research area in Europe. While organic polymer chemistry has naturally arisen
from the historical development of synthetic methods in preparative organic chemistry, modern
society cannot afford to leave the paradigmatic new developments in inorganic chemistry of the last
few decades unguided. Numerous new building blocks have been disclosed (heavier element–
element double bonds, low-valent species, (anti-)aromatic entities, etc.) that await incorporation
into smart polymers so that their full potential of electronic anisotropy will be brought to bear. By
definition many of the molecular compounds of heavier elements exhibit semiconducting properties
and are consequently predisposed to contribute to various areas such as energy transformation and
COST 007/13 8 TECHNICAL ANNEX EN
storage or information technologies.
No single group can meet these challenges by itself. By joining forces in the Action, experts with
support from industry have the opportunity to contribute to state-of-the-art science in a robust
research environment, of relevance to the international community. The relative fragmentation of
the inorganic community requires a coordinated effort to bring together the experts of their various
fields in order to produce bespoke solutions for the problems of modern society. The Action will
take maximum advantage of the enormous experience in inorganic polymers that exists in the
central and eastern European countries by establishing a Smart Inorganic Polymers network (SIPs).
It will foster an efficient collaboration between the leading groups in Europe to ensure optimal
awareness of the current developments. This will shorten the time span between the synthesis of
building blocks, polymers preparation and processing and identification of their smart properties,
and consequently will increase scientific and technological advancement as compared to bilateral
and informal collaborations.
Currently, there are several major international conferences on relevant aspects of the Action
(International Symposium on Functional π-Electron Systems (conjugated polymers), the
International Symposium on Organosilicon Chemistry (polysilanes/polysiloxanes), the International
Symposium on Inorganic Ring Systems and the International Workshop on Silicon-based
Polymers), but these generally focus on well-established inorganic polymer systems or on
molecular inorganic chemistry, while innovative inorganic polymers are hardly covered. The Action
will implement an annual conference, the European Conference on Smart Inorganic Polymers
(EuSIP), addressing the major research areas from fundamental to applied sciences.
B.4 Complementarity with other research programmes
SIPs will aim at consistency, complementarity and the absence of duplication between activities
under the Action and other relevant current and planned European research projects. Transparency
will be practiced in order to achieve the objectives of complementarity and consistency, and
emphasis will put on synergetic approaches.
The current COST Action MP1202 (“Rational design of hybrid organic-inorganic interfaces: the
next step towards advanced functional materials”) studies organic-inorganic interfaces, in
combination with a previously supported Action (COST Action D35: “From molecules to molecular
devices: Control of electronic, photonic, magnetic and spintronic behaviour”), and COST Action
D36 (ended 2011) looked at “Molecular structure-performance relationships at the surface of
functional materials”, demonstrating the importance of joint European initiatives towards inorganic-
COST 007/13 9 TECHNICAL ANNEX EN
organic hybrid materials with superior functionalities.
The COST Action CM0802 (European Phosphorus Sciences Network, due to end in April 2013)
aims at understanding the structure–reactivity correlations to explain distinctive reactivities and
properties of novel phosphorus-based compounds. Its emphasis was markedly different but also
partially covered multifunctional phosphorus-based materials as one of the topics with focus on
materials science and nanoscience.
The COST Action SIPs focuses solely on inorganic polymers and their potential. SIPs will adjust
the focus to functionality and properties that can only be achieved by using the entire toolbox of
available p- and d-block elements and beyond.
There are two projects focused on flame-retardant materials in Europe:
• COST MP1105 ‘Flaretex’ (Sustainable flame retardancy for textiles and related
materials based on nanoparticles substituting conventional chemicals)
• FP-7 DEROCA (Development of safer and more ecofriendly flame retardant materials
based on CNT co-additives for Commodity Applications)
Furthermore, it is anticipated that related consortia will emerge within the EU Framework
Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020, stimulated by the success of the
transnational networking achieved in this Action.
C. OBJECTIVES AND BENEFITS
C.1 Aim
The aim of the Action is to focus the research activities on inorganic polymers across Europe and to
explore the full potential of inorganic polymers in materials science and technology with emphasis
on advanced smart properties. The scientific programme consists of highly interdisciplinary
research in inorganic polymer chemistry for the design, synthesis, characterisation and performance
of functional inorganic polymers. Considerable focus will be placed on morphology and tuning the
structure�property/performance correlations. The scientific results of the Action will combine
state-of-the-art monomer and polymer design with recent advances in polymer processing and
applications.
C.2 Objectives
This COST Action will establish mechanisms for professional networking between leading
scientists in the inorganic polymer community and systematically disseminate latest developments.
COST 007/13 10 TECHNICAL ANNEX EN
The expected research outcomes include innovative results in inorganic polymer design and the
development of novel ideas and joint research projects within SIPs.
Secondary objectives:
- development of advanced materials with defined properties,
- actively promote inorganic polymer sciences in Europe by organising workshops, training schools,
exchange of young researchers and inviting speakers from industrial companies, such as REPSOL,
BASF, GE Lightning, Magpie Polymers, Evonik, DSM Ahead BV, Henkel, Dow Corning etc.,
universities and other research institutions,
- training of young and early-stage researchers in polymer sciences, thus ensuring continuity
- promote exchange of information and expertise within the network and between academia and
industry participants, thus fostering further collaborations and joint research applications
- dissemination of the outcomes to a wider public and joint publication of results in high-impact
journals
- dissemination of results during EuSIP to allow stakeholders and other interested parties to meet in
person to exchange and identify present and future industrial requirements and devise new research
strategies. Naturally, appropriate attention to intellectual property (IP) protection will be given.
C.3 How networking within the Action will yield the objectives?
The envisaged group of participants collectively possesses all the necessary skills and expertise to
fully harness the potential of inorganic polymers. Internationally renowned research groups with
distinctive scientific reputation in synthetic design and polymer processing will be involved in three
Working Groups. Each research group is expected to participate in the Action with an average of at
least four researchers, i.e., experienced scientists and young and early-stage researchers. Several
senior scientists will participate with their research teams in more than one Working Group, to
encourage focused research interactions spanning the different research topics of the three Working
Groups’ activities. Excellent experimental and technical facilities as well as scientific expertise are
available at the participating institutions to achieve the research objectives within SIPs. The Action
enables researchers to acquire both training in novel emerging techniques and know-how in
polymer sciences (i.e., specific synthetic, characterisation and high-level processing methods).
These resources will be made available to all groups of SIPs enabling transfer of techniques and
applications and sharing best-practice procedures.
Close communication between the Working Groups and the Management Committee (MC) will be
ensured by regular meetings and electronic means. The Action will foster and encourage the
COST 007/13 11 TECHNICAL ANNEX EN
dissemination of specific expertise throughout the partnership. This goal will be achieved by setting
up a specifically devoted Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) by which young researchers
from partner laboratories will be exposed to specific expertise available in other laboratories of the
network.
The success of this Action is based on unifying the efforts of groups with vital expertise in the
development of appropriate new inorganic building blocks with those specialised in polymer
synthesis, characterisation and applications, whereby involvement of theoretical groups for
predicting structure–property relationships is of importance. Their mutual interactions will allow
highly innovative synthetic approaches to be devised, new materials to be characterised and
applications to be implemented.
C.4 Potential impact of the Action
SIPs will promote synergism through cooperation beyond existing limits between scientists from
different COST countries and thus increase European competitiveness in the development of
innovative technologies. The main aims of the Action are scientific and technological progress.
The participating scientists have a substantial interest in novel inorganic polymers as tools for state-
of-the-art solutions. Some have vital expertise in the development of appropriate new inorganic
building blocks, while others have unique know-how in polymer synthesis, characterisation and
applications, or in predicting structure–property relationships. Their mutual interactions in a
concerted effort will allow highly innovative synthetic approaches to be devised, new materials to
be characterised and applications to be implemented.
The COST Action will stimulate the sharing of expertise between research groups, paving the way
for new products with special focus on smart materials. Access to and knowledge about new
functional materials is very important for the competitiveness of the manufacturing industry and for
the sustainable development of society. SIPs will therefore also encourage and open new
opportunities for cooperation with many of Europe’s leading companies specialised in polymer
technology participating in this Action. With the involvement of industrial partners, smooth
technology transfer will be assured. Furthermore, strong links of the participating groups to the
industrial sector will ensure a significant economic impact. An annual conference, the European
Conference on Smart Inorganic Polymers (EuSIP), will be implemented and dedicated to
dissemination of results. This will allow stakeholders and other interested parties to meet, exchange
and devise new research strategies. This will strengthen the European position in highly competitive
markets such as solar cells, OLEDs, nanoelectronics, information storage, drug-delivery systems,
COST 007/13 12 TECHNICAL ANNEX EN
ceramics, etc.
C.5 Target groups/end users
Polymers are one of the major areas of molecular and materials science and constitute a significant
part of the world around us. Applications range from adhesives, lubricants and structural
components for cars and aircrafts to more mundane uses such as in children’s toys underlining their
importance for nearly every aspect of daily life.
The Action will assemble in a highly motivated consortium some of the most outstanding European
expertise in inorganic polymer sciences and contribute to reinforcing and strengthening the
European standing in a strategic scientific and technological area.
Target groups to be addressed will be:
- the research community in the field and the wider scientific community: academics will be
provided with substantially increased access to current state-of-the-art knowledge, novel tools and
techniques.
- industry: active industrial participation will be facilitated by contacts to major companies
(REPSOL, BASF, GE Lightning, Magpie Polymers, Evonik, DSM Ahead BV, Henkel, Dow
Corning). The SIPs meetings will offer an excellent platform for discussions and dissemination.
- the non-scientific community, general public, and policy makers: end users will benefit from the
expected outcomes in the area of materials science investigated and developed by the members of
the Action.
D. SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME
D.1 Scientific focus
The focus of SIPs is the development of advanced materials. The scientific programme consists of
the design, synthesis, characterisation and application of functional polymers predicted by
structure–property relationships. The interplay between theory and experimental work in predicting
structure–property relationships will facilitate the creation of materials with defined electronic,
redox, photo-emissive, magnetic, pre-ceramic, self-healing, catalytic and other “smart” properties.
This will include inorganic polymers with main group element backbones other than carbon, with a
strong bias — but not exclusively — towards B-, Si- and P-containing polymers as well as
metallopolymers. The implementation of novel bonding modes that are currently only observed in
molecules or oligomers into polymeric systems will generate attractive bulk properties.
COST 007/13 13 TECHNICAL ANNEX EN
D.2 Scientific work plan - methods and means
Three interactive Working Groups (WG) will focus on the design and synthesis of novel functional
building blocks (WG1), the formation of smart inorganic polymers (WG2) and advanced
applications (WG3). Theoreticians and experts on advanced analytical methods will be included in
each WG. Accordingly, SIPs will help answer important questions of an applied nature, but still
includes fundamental frontier research at the cutting edge.
WG1: Novel functional building blocks (reactive inorganic and organometallic tailor-made
building blocks will be developed for the synthesis of novel inorganic polymers)
WG1 will focus on the design, development and optimisation of suitable inorganic building blocks.
New synthetic approaches are vital to overcome existing limitations regarding monomer
availability, and unconventional new building blocks are urgently needed to achieve unique
properties, compositions and controlled architectures of polymers. The extremely diverse nature of
potential functional building blocks in inorganic chemistry — be it existing or predicted structural
motifs — requires the coordination of numerous individual research groups from a broad area of
expertise: (1) Strained inorganic ring systems (e.g., oxaphosphiranes, azaphosphiridines,
diphosphetanes, etc.) are promising precursors for ring-opening polymerisation reactions but are
also of interest due to their unusual properties even in the case of the carbon systems (bent bonds,
Walsh-type orbitals). (2) Heterocycles (e.g., silole, phosphole, metallacycles and related) are
excellent building blocks for conjugated polymers, since they display electronic properties
markedly different from those of highly aromatic thiophene and pyrrole rings. In addition, their
functional properties can be tuned by simple chemical modifications. (3) Multiple-bonded systems
of heavier main group elements (e.g., heteroalkenes and heteroalkynes of groups 13–16 and mixed
group 13/15) are conformationally much more flexible than in the case of carbon and additionally
are characterised by a more narrow HOMO–LUMO gap, which can reasonably be expected to
translate into small band gaps in related materials. (4) Transition metal based building blocks (as
heterocycles, multiple-bonded systems or functionalised complexes) will allow the processing
advantages of polymers to be combined with the functionality provided by the presence of metal
centres. (5) Saturated element clusters can act as electron reservoirs and induce severe anisotropy
into extended π-conjugated systems. (6) Unsaturated (metalloid) clusters show unique electronic
anisotropies and in addition can be readily functionalised while maintaining the conductive
properties of cluster building blocks.
These molecular building blocks will be characterised by state-of-the-art methods such as 1D and
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2D multinuclear NMR (heteronuclei, multidimensional, solid state) and vibrational spectroscopy,
UV/Vis spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, EPR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, CD
spectroscopy (optical properties, NLO effects), fundamental theoretical investigations on electron
transport properties of conjugated building blocks that might reveal potential applications (i.e.
rectification), break junction setup, STEM conductance measurements on single molecules and
polymer building blocks.
Including inorganic structural motifs with site-specific responses into polymeric systems not only
requires straightforward preparative procedures but also needs a basic understanding of the
underlying mechanisms of the inorganic building blocks in order to tune the polymer properties
accordingly. Therefore, the chemical and physical properties of these building blocks will also be
studied by cyclovoltammetry to explore their redox properties and to obtain experimental data
which relate calculated HOMO–LUMO energies with real charge-transfer processes in condensed
phase including relaxation and solvation. Some fundamental physical properties, such as the
thermal behaviour (thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)),
vapour pressure and viscosity, need to be explored to allow the rational development of
polymerisation protocols which are expected to differ quite substantially from those of
hydrocarbon-based polymers. Moreover, the functional-group tolerance needs to be modelled
theoretically and explored synthetically, since the balance of competing reaction pathways may be
tipped by subtle reactivity changes.
WG2: Smart inorganic polymers (synthetic approaches to polymers with defined and optimised
properties)
In WG2, state-of-the-art polymer design will be combined with recent advances in polymer
processing as developed in well-established fields such as polysiloxanes. Thus, controlled and
"living" polymerisation routes to different classes of inorganic polymers will be developed.
New tailor-made inorganic, organic and organometallic building blocks (prepared in WG1) will be
used as molecular precursors for the synthesis of novel inorganic polymers. Synthetic approaches to
polymers with defined electronic, optical or magnetic properties will include (1) ring-opening
polymerisation of small strained hetero- and metallacycles or catalytic dehydrocoupling of suitable
element–hydrogen precursors (for polyaminoboranes, polyphosphinoboranes, polyferrocenylsilanes,
etc.), (2) the generation of element-centred radicals as photo-initiators for polymer synthesis
(radical polymerisation), (3) electropolymerisation of monomers based on heterocycles, (4) catalyst-
free (co-)polymerisation of highly reactive heavier π-bonded systems, (5) self-assembly of suitable
building blocks into new nanometric structures (e.g. π-conjugated polymers), (6) using
coordination-driven supramolecular chemistry processes involving the metal–ligand coordination
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bond as reversible interaction to form extended supramolecular polymers, (7) synthesis of (chiral)
block copolymers (e.g., polyphosphazenes) and the generation of chiral micelles by self-assembly.
Research will also involve crystallisation-driven self-assembly of block copolymers, which
provides a new route to well-defined supramolecular structures.
The resulting polymers will be characterised by a wide range of methods, such as gel permeation
chromatography (GPC) for molecular weight determination and distribution, differential thermal
analysis (DTA) for thermal properties, elemental analysis (for composition and impurities), NMR
spectroscopy (for determination of number-average molecular weight Mn via end-group analysis or
tacticity), diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle
X-ray scattering (SAXS) (for size, structure and shape determinations), structure determinations of
self-assembled systems by X-ray and neutron diffraction, impedance spectroscopy of solutions,
solids, films, etc. giving a better understanding of dielectric and electric properties of materials. In
fact molecular weights determined by GPC are usually based on polystyrene standards, which is an
intrinsic challenge to using this technique for other polymers. The special value of this method is,
however, its insight into the modal distribution of soluble polymers. Other methods that will be
employed for similar purposes are vapour-pressure osmometry, light scattering techniques etc. For
insoluble materials, heteronuclear solid-state MAS (magic angle spinning) NMR will be helpful to
identify building units and to quantify structural elements in the polymer backbone. Moreover,
sophisticated mass spectrometric methods employing soft ionisation techniques (e.g. field
desorption mass spectrometry (FD-MS)) may be used for the determination of molecular weights up
to 100.000 Dalton).
Considerable focus will be placed on morphology and tuning of structure–property and performance
correlations (in collaboration with theoreticians and WG3). This is especially important for
understanding and modelling the specific properties of the prepared smart inorganic polymers, e.g.
polyamino- or polyphosphinoboranes, poly(ferrocenyl-based) derivatives, π-conjugated materials,
block copolymers, chiral polymers, metallopolymers etc..
WG3: Advanced applications (smart properties and applications of inorganic polymers will be
the focus of this area)
Organic polymers have contributed very positively to improving the life quality of mankind, and
can be considered the polymers of the 20th century. However, the technological challenges of the
21st century require an even higher degree of sophistication. Smart inorganic polymers will be a
key to meeting these scientific challenges. Smart polymers are designed to exhibit certain functions
prompted by external stimuli. In close collaboration with the industrial partners involved in the
Action, members of WG3 will investigate future applications of the smart inorganic materials
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prepared in WG2, which include (1) nanoscalar electronic and optoelectronic devices, (2) stimuli-
responsive polymers, (3) polymer-based catalysts and sensors, (4) tuneable flame-retardant
polymers and fire protection, (5) redox-active photonic crystals, (6) (semi)conducting nanowires,
heterojunctions and nanolithographic templates.
The mutual interaction between theoretical calculations and experimental results will be an
extremely fruitful combination in understanding physical and chemical phenomena, which in turn
can be used to develop new materials. The combination of two methodologies (calculation of
oligomeric materials to understand the properties of polymers; the periodic box model) provides a
better understanding and possibilities to predict new materials with new properties. Furthermore,
MM and QM/MM methods for a detailed understanding of polymer properties will be developed
and expanded.
Classical procedures for polymer processing will be explored as well as sophisticated techniques
like electrospinning for the production of smart inorganic polymer fibres. Highly sophisticated
methods will be employed for studying the properties of the obtained smart inorganic polymers (e.g.
photophysical properties: fluorescence (time-resolved), chiroptical properties, NLO, UV/Vis
spectroscopy, magnetic and dipolar time-resolved spectroscopy, time-resolved optical and IR
spectroscopy, white light emitters; electrical properties: (photo-)conductivity, hole mobility, band
structures; cyclovoltammetry: redox properties, thermal and photonic responses, magnetic and
dipolar interactions, etc.; cyclic voltammetry: redox properties, electron reservoirs, charge
accumulation; processability of polymers: spin coating, printing, casting; surface properties:
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive
X-ray spectroscopy (EDX); stability: photo- and chemical stability under working conditions)
which are typically not available in a single group but necessitate collaborations in a larger network
of experts from academia and industry.
E. ORGANISATION
E.1 Coordination and organisation
Much of the communication within the Action will be undertaken by electronic means (e-mail,
web-based audiovisual media and the Action’s website). Decisions will be taken during the MC
meetings or by e-mail per e-vote.
Management Committee (MC)
The MC will be appointed to manage, supervise and coordinate the Action. The MC will include up
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to two representatives from each signatory country. The Action Chair and Vice-Chair of the Action
as well as the Grant Holder will be elected during the first MC meeting.
The MC will meet at least once a year during EuSIP. The MC will (1) manage and coordinate the
activities of the Action, (2) plan the budget and allocate the funds, (3) set up and maintain a website
of the Action, (4) coordinate the dissemination of results, (5) plan and prepare annual and final
reports to the CMST Domain Committee and to the COST Office, (6) coordinate the admission of
new Working Group members, and (8) establish criteria for assessing STSM applications in line
with the scientific objectives of the Action. Furthermore, the MC will ensure communication of
results, activities, events and achievements to the scientific and external stakeholders, as well as to
the general public.
Steering Group (SG)
The SG will include the Action Chair, Vice-Chair, Working Groups Leaders, STSM Coordinator,
Dissemination Manager and Equal Opportunities Manager. The members of the SG will be elected
during the first MC meeting.
SG meetings will take place once a year usually in combination with the MC meeting to reduce
expenses within the Action’s budget or, if necessary, at another time. The SG will (1) manage and
coordinate the activities of the individual WGs, (2) plan the scientific programme of the Training
Schools and EuSIP in agreement with the Local Organiser, (3) plan, prepare and report the
scientific results of the WGs to the MC, (4) assist the MC in preparing the annual and final reports,
(5) manage together with the MC the applications of new Working Group members, (6) manage the
STSMs requests and completion, (7) prepare promotion and educational material for conferences
and meetings. A Dissemination Manager will be in charge of maintaining the website and
dissemination of important results. Furthermore, an Equal Opportunities Manager will make sure
that all requirements for gender balance and involvement of early-stage researchers will be
respected.
Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)
Exchanges of young researchers between participating groups of SIPs will be actively promoted by
STSMs to take full advantage of complementary expertise. Such regular exchanges will optimally
exploit the diverse expertise available throughout SIPs. The STSM coordinator will oversee the
appropriate allotment of STSMs based on gender, age, proposed work plan and scientific
experience. The criteria for the assessment of the applications will be established by the MC, and
any bias on grounds of gender, age, religion and nationality will be avoided. STSMs will take place
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throughout the whole year and will facilitate contacts within and among Working Groups and allow
up-to-date scientific exchange of information.
European Conference on Smart Inorganic Polymers (EuSIP)
An annual “European Conference on Smart Inorganic Polymers” (EuSIP) will be organised in one
of the participating COST countries with venues changing every year (200–250 participants;
young/senior scientists: 3/1) including invited speakers from stakeholders interested in this Action
(REPSOL, BASF, GE Lightning, Magpie Polymers, Evonik, DSM Ahead BV, Henkel, Dow
Corning etc.).
SIPs Training Schools
Three Training Schools will be organised particularly for early-stage researchers within the
network; the MC will decide on their scientific focus. The Training Schools will take place in one
of the participating institutions in conjunction with EuSIP, so that lectures and practical discussions
will enable the transfer of knowledge and experience between the participants and promote the
comprehensive training of early-stage researchers.
E.2 Working Groups
Three Working Groups (WG) will be established for this Action. Each WG will be chaired by a
Working Group Leader and a Vice-Leader appointed by the MC during the first MC meeting. They
will be responsible for the coordination, communication, organisation, supervision and reporting
within their WGs. The WG structure and admission of new Working Group members will be
decided by the MC. The selection of new members in the WGs will be made with consideration of
the expertise in WG activity and to ensure an optimal composition with respect to complementary
skills, existing collaborations, career stages, gender balance and industrial membership. This will
assure high-quality networking and focussed scientific progress.
The Working Group Meetings will take place mainly in combination with MC meetings to reduce
expenses within the Action’s budget or, if necessary, at another time. These meetings will represent
the main platform for the WGs to coordinate their activities, to foster new collaborations and
strengthen old ones, and to exchange information, thus promoting concerted research activities. The
progress of the scientific activities will be monitored by means of annual reports provided by the
WG Leaders.
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E.3 Liaison and interaction with other research programmes
This COST Action will particularly interact with running COST Actions (MP1202, MP1105),
previous successful Actions (D35, D36, CM0802) and further programmes (FP-7 DEROCA), and
will thereby enable informational exchange. Scientific training of young researchers will be funded
nationally by the participating institutions within the framework of national and international
research training programmes or graduate schools. The participation of members of SIPs as guest
lecturers in these training programmes or workshops related to the Action will be also encouraged
to promote research dissemination.
E.4 Gender balance and involvement of early-stage researchers
This COST Action will respect an appropriate gender balance in all its activities and the
Management Committee will place this as a standard item on all its MC agendas. The Action will
also be committed to considerably involve early-stage researchers. This item will also be placed as a
standard item on all MC agendas.
This COST Action will be committed to achieving appropriate gender balance with a high level of
female participation and considerable involvement of early-stage researchers (ESRs). Therefore, the
MC will appoint an Equal Opportunities Manager to ensure that these goals will be achieved and to
avoid any bias on the ground of gender, nationality or religion. While maintaining focus on good
attitudes for scientific work, the Action will also address problems that are specific for females’
careers and general career problems that may affect women more than men. The Action will strive
to involve more female researchers as well as early-stage researchers. The Action will actively
encourage other female researchers to join and participate in the WGs once the network has been
established. Furthermore, they will offer comprehensive career advice for young females and
encourage them to take leadership responsibility or apply for vacant positions.
ESRs will be motivated to join the network and continue in this very applicable field of inorganic
polymers. Within the Action, they will be encouraged to apply for STSMs and participate in the
SIPs Training Schools to increase enthusiasm among young scientists and to stimulate movement
into this field. Furthermore, the Action will prompt ESRs to pursue a science career, especially in
chemistry and areas related to SIPs and will therefore also facilitate active participation of female
and early-stage researchers with talks at conferences and meetings. The SIPs internet platform will
be linked to several search engines providing job opportunities for young researchers and thus
become an excellent tool to attract PhD students to the groups of the Action.
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F. TIMETABLE
A four-year duration of the Action is foreseen according to the Timetable and taking into
consideration the existing cooperation between the participating research groups and the desirable
development of new cooperations.
Year Activity Work progress
1 1st MC meeting of SIPs 1st SIPs annual report
1st EuSIP
MC/SG/WG meetings in combination with
1st EuSIP
STSMs of the Working Groups’ ESRs
2 MC/SG/WG meetings in combination with
2nd EuSIP
2nd SIPs annual report; (joint) publications in
high-impact journals, joint applications,
established collaborations
STSMs of the Working Groups’ ESRs
2nd EuSIP
1st SIPs Training School in combination
with 2nd EuSIP
3 MC/SG/WG meetings in combination with
3rd EuSIP
3rd SIPs annual report; (joint) publications in
high-impact journals, publication of a special
high-impact journal issue on SIPs, joint
applications to binational programmes and EU
calls, established collaborations
STSMs of the Working Groups’ ESRs
3rd EuSIP
2nd SIPs Training School in combination
with 3rd EuSIP
4 MC/SG/WG meetings in combination with
4th EuSIP
4th SIPs annual report; (joint) publications in
high-impact journals, publication of a book
with articles on SIPs, preparation of an
educational movie on SIPs for youTube, joint
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applications to national programmes and EU
calls, established collaborations, strong links
with industry, joint patents;
final report; Final Action Publication
STSMs of the Working Groups’ ESRs
4th EuSIP
3rd SIPs Training School in combination
with 4th EuSIP
Final Action Conference in combination
with final MC/SG/WG meetings
G. ECONOMIC DIMENSION
The following COST countries have actively participated in the preparation of the Action or
otherwise indicated their interest: AT, CH, CZ, DE, ES, FR, HU, IT, NL, NO, RO, SE, SI, UK. On
the basis of national estimates, the economic dimension of the activities to be carried out under the
Action has been estimated at 56 Million € for the total duration of the Action. This estimate is valid
under the assumption that all of the countries mentioned above but no other countries will
participate in the Action. Any departure from this will change the total economic dimension
accordingly.
H. DISSEMINATION PLAN
H.1 Who?
This Action is aimed at disseminating its research results to the active international research
community in the field. Thus, the dissemination of the activities of SIPs is aimed at promoting and
extending the network to attract further experts in materials science and at promoting robust
relationships with the many industrial partners that are active in Europe in the topics addressed by
the three WGs structuring this Action as potential users or developers of the results of the Action.
In addition, SIPs aims to train early-stage researchers in a strategic research area of European
chemical industry, attracting and encouraging young researchers to pursue research in the field.
The broader scientific community, such as research institutes, universities, industrial laboratories
and research frameworks will be addressed, thereby promoting inorganic polymer chemistry and its
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related applications to facilitate interdisciplinary research activities.
Policy makers and the public community will be informed about the Action network to increase
interest and awareness in the field. Suitable COST-related activities will specifically be addressed to
mass media to illustrate the research breakthroughs and the multiform benefits made available by
SIPs research activities to European citizens.
H.2 What?
Within the active research community the results of this Action will be disseminated by established
scientific communication channels, such as publications in scientific journals, chapters and books,
brochures and posters, web sites, oral and poster presentations at conferences, and seminars at
universities, research institutions, and industrial partners. Publication of the scientific results in
leading, mostly European scientific journals will be targeted, such as Angewandte Chemie,
Chemistry – A European Journal, ChemBioChem, ChemSusChem, ChemPhysChem,
ChemMedChem, Chemical Communications, Dalton Transactions, European Journal of Inorganic
Chemistry, Journal of Molecular Catalysis, etc. The potential groups involved in the Action have a
well-established track record as regular contributors to the most prestigious international journals
and conferences in this area.
A major focus of the Action will be the technology transfer of the most important results to
industrial partners participating or interested in the Action. Research results suitable for industrial
applications will be discussed with European industrial partners within the framework of seminars
or collaboration meetings. Appropriate attention to intellectual property (IP) protection of the
scientific results and technology advancements will be given.
Review articles as well as the annual scientific reports will be made available by electronic means
to the scientific and industrial community at large with potential interest in this field. Additionally,
the final scientific report will be printed and distributed widely to scientists and researchers of both
academia and public companies with interest in the scientific achievements in the inorganic
polymeric materials of the COST Action.
The annual conference EuSIP will gather the scientific community and enable exchange of
knowledge and extensive discussions between the participants of all Working Groups and more.
Industrial partners will be encouraged to contribute with their own research. Conference
proceedings will be published and made available to the broader scientific public and to interested
industries. One or two non-European outstanding scientists will be invited to deliver plenary
lectures at the conference. The involvement of non-European leading scientists with state-of-the-art
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research in inorganic polymers, especially from the USA and Asia, will be beneficial to compare
and contrast the most important research achievements of the WGs of SIPs.
In addition, scientific exchanges will include Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) of young
researchers at participating institutions. The STSMs will be organised for young researchers to
become familiar with novel techniques and modern working practice to enlarge their scientific
know-how by high-level specific training. STSMs will take place throughout the whole grant period
to facilitate contacts within and among Working Groups and to allow up-to-date scientific exchange
of information. Such exchanges will increase the participation of young and early-stage researchers
in the network and will enable an optimum scientific outcome.
The training schools of SIPs will promote knowledge of the field and the dissemination of research
activities of the Action to a wider scientific community by attracting young participants of the
Action.
A website of the Action will provide a platform for recent developments, novelties and innovative
aspects and will increase awareness of the network to attract further collaborating groups and both
SME and multinational companies dealing with inorganic polymeric materials.
A Final Action Publication will address a larger public, other than just the scientific community
involved or from outside the network. The purpose of the final publication will be to show the
importance of the COST Action and the state-of-the-art research work and achievements in the area
of inorganic polymers in a non-technical and non-specialised language also to the non-scientific
community (including school children), non-experts or policy makers who are not familiar with the
area at all. Whenever possible, promotional activities to inform the non-scientific public through
articles in non-technical journals and newspapers, press releases, stands at science fairs and flyers
will be pursued to foster public awareness.
H.3 How?
At the beginning of the Action, the MC will set up together with the Dissemination Manager a work
plan for the dissemination of results. This work plan will be continuously updated during the MC
meetings every year.
The website of the Action will provide information on the expertise of all participants as well as any
new technological and scientific breakthrough. The SIPs web platform will not only provide
scientific background information and disseminate results, but will also be a powerful instrument
for organisation and management of the Action, announcing activities such as the EuSIP, the
training schools, STSMs and open positions for early-stage and experienced researchers available in
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the network laboratories. Furthermore, all partners’ research websites will become an excellent tool
to promote and attract awareness to the Action. The Action will be further advertised also outside
Europe by making use of the worldwide collaborations of the involved groups.
Joint publications involving researchers from more than one group participating in the Action will
be particularly encouraged. All presentations at meetings and conferences, scientific publications
and articles in non-specialised newspapers and participations in public events such as scientific fairs
within the Action SIPs will acknowledge COST support. The network partners have well-
established track records as regular contributors to the most prestigious international journals and
conferences in the Action’s area, as well as in acquiring patents.
Transfer of knowledge is a key element of the COST Action. Involvement of industrial partners in
SIPs will ensure technology transfer and internships offering hands-on experience. Excellent
collaborations with industrial partners already exist; additional European companies will be
contacted and informed about the Action and if possible involved in the WGs’ activities. Attracting
additional support from industrial and third-party sponsors will further promote the Action and also
ensure continuity.
The final SIPs conference will be organised to round up the Action and disseminate scientific
highlights to the scientific community. Interested parties and potential users, including
representatives from industry and related scientific fields, will be invited.